Button-sewing machine



Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

2 SHtEfS-SHEET l- W. L. BARRON.

' BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1917. 1,405,477.

W. L- BARRON.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 18,191

Patented Feb. 7, 1922'.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J :9 Z45 INVENTOR ATTORNEY one Sr WILLIAM L. BARRON, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AsSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 7,1922.

Application filed April 18, 1917. Serial No. 162,916.

To all whom it may concern-:-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. BARRON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button- Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had. therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to button sewing machines and has for its main object to provide a machine of the class described which will sew two superposed buttons together and to the opposite sides of an intermediate body of material, and which will automatically center said buttons relatively to each other and to the needle, regardless of variations in their sizes within certainreasonable limits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which will sew two superposed buttons together and to the opposite sides of an intermediate body of material with loosely formed stitches, the degree of looseness of which is predetermined and independent of the character of the material to which the buttons are attached.

The above and other objects, as will hereinafter appear, are attained by the present improvement which in its preferred embodiment comprises a machine of the button-sewer type having a reciprocating 1-1188- dle, a work-holder and means for producing relative lateral jogging movements between said needle and work-holder. In the present instance the work-holder comprises a supporting bar carrying at its forward end a work-supporting plate formed with an enlarged needle-aperture. Means are provided for automatically centering a lower or stay button, of any size within. certain limits, relatively to said needle-aperture and for holding said button in said central position during the stitching-forming operation. The work-holder further comprises an upper self-centering button-clamp, which, per 'se, is of the usual construction disclosed in patent to Sullivan, No. 777,564, and in my prior Patent No.' 1,093,241. The upper button-clamp is spring-pressed downwardly to force the upper button-clamping elements against a body-fabric placed over a lower button gripped by the lower but ton-clamping elements. In the present instance, a spring is secured to the under side the work-holder.

of the upper button-clamp in such a posi- .F'FicE. 5

tion that its forwardly extending bifurcated extremity bears upwardly against the under side of t e upper button-clamping jaws and serves 'to space said jaws a predetermined distance above the upper surface of the body-fabric.-

The invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view'of the work-holder of the machine. Fig. 3 is a front end'elevation of the .work-holder'showing upper and'lower buttons in position .at opposite sides of an intervening body of material. Fig. 4 isa side elevation of the front end-portion of Fig. 5. is a bottom plan view of the upper button-clamp. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lower button-clamp. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lower button-clamping levers and the slide-plate is 'ournaled a reci )rocatin needle-bar 5 carrying an eye-pointed needle 6. The needle-bar is driven through the usual link connection 7 with the crank-disk 8 carried by the main-shaft 9 journaled within and lengthwise of the tubular arm 3 and supporting the tight and'loose pulleys'lO and v 11, respectively. The machine further comprises the usual take-up t which acts to draw up and tighten the stitches in a manner well known.

Mounted-upon the bed 1 is the slide-bar 12 which supports the work-holder and to which lateral and longitudinal jogging movements may be imparted by the usual mechanism disclosed in said Sullivan patent. This mechanism comprises, briefly, a controller-cam wheel-47 driven from the main-shaft and having cam-grooves 48 and 49 on opposite faces. A rock-lever 50 carries at one end a roller 51 which enters the groove 48. The other end of the rock-lever s connected by an extensible pitman 52 wlth the slotted arm 53 of a bellcrank-lever, the other arm 54 of which is connected by a link 55 with a plate 56 carrying the slide-bar 12'. By this means a lateral jogging movement is imparted to the slide-ban A rockshaft 57 has'at one end an arm 58 carrying a roller 59 which enters the cam-groove 49 in the wheel 47 At the other end of the rock-shaft is a slotted orgrooved arm 60.

-A rod 61 extends upwardly from the rear end of plate 12 into the roove in arm 60, said rod carrying an a justable contact block 62 secured to'the rod by a set-screw 63. The latter described mechanism produ ces a side-shift or longitudinal jo ging movement of the slide-bar. The sli e-bar 12 carries at its rearward end the block 13 recessed to receive the rearward end of the upper button-clamp supporting bar 14 which is pressed downwardly by the leaf spring 15 bolted at its rearward end to the block 13. At the close of a stitching opera tion the bar 14 and upper button-clamp supported thereby are lifted against the pressure of spring 15 to release the work.

Secured to the forward end of the slidebar 12 is the work-supporting plate 16' formed with the needle-aperture 17. in the present instance the plate 16 is utilized to sustain reciprocally movable stay-button clamping elements which are preferably made up in the form of levers 18, 18 having curved button-gripping jaws 18', 18 and are, pivotally mounted upon the plate 16 by means of the screws 19, 19. The levers 18, 18 are yieldingly pressed toward each other by means of the U-shaped spring 20 which is secured between its ends to the work-supporting plate at 21. The limbs 22, 22 of the spring 20 are extended forwardly at the sides of the levers 18, 18 which latter are notched at 23, 23 to receive the free endportions of said limbs.

The under sides of the levers 18, 18 are recessed at 24, 24 to confine the wings 25, 25 of a slide-block 26 which is formed at its under side with a rib 27 adapted to slide within and lengthwise of the slot 28 formed in the work-supporting plate 16. The wings 25, 25 above referred to, are each provided with a slot 29 which is inclined rearwardly toward the slot 28. The levers 18, 18 carry downwardly projecting pins 30, 30 each of which extends into a corresponding one of said slots 29, 29. The' slide-block 26. is formed with a button-centering shoulder 31 'and in the present embodiment the angle of convergence of theslots 29, 29 is so chosen that the button-clamping jaws 18, 18, together with the button-centering shoulder 31, are maintained spaced equi-distantly from the center of the needle-aperture 17 throughout their range of movement The. forward extremities of the levers 18, /18 are curved outwardly to form diverging horns 32,32 It will be seen from the above descnpt1on that a stay-button b of any reasonable slze may be readily placed upon the plate 16 and pushed rearwardly between the horns 32, 32 and into engagement with the centering stop 31 and the jaws 18, 18'.

The upper button-clamp, per se, is of wellknown construction, and comprises the usual button-clamping levers 33, 33 whose forwardly disposed free ends are turned inwardly and notched to form opposed button-gripping jaws 34, 34. The levers 33, 33 are pivoted at their rearwardly disposed ends to the under side of the bar 14 and carry downwardly projecting pins 35, 35 which enter the rearwardly-converging slots 36, 36 formed in the slide-plate 37 carried by the slide-bar 38 which is confined to slide lengthwise of the bar 14 by means of two screws 39 and 40 which pass downwardly throu h the slot 41 inthe bar 14 and are threa ed into the slide-bar 38. The

close the clamping jaws 34, 34 upon a button I; inserted therebetween. Theusual adjustable stop-lever 44 limits the approach of said jaws under the influence of the spring 43.

Secured to the under side of the bar .14 is the rearwardly disposed shank end of a bifurcated flat spring 45 whose spaced forward extensions 46, 46 press upwardly against an upper button I) gripped between the jaws 34, 34 and serve to space the upper button a redetermined distance, defined by the thickness of said spring, from the upper surface of the fabric f. The purpose of so spacing the upper button above the fabric is to insure that the button may be sewed to the fabric with loosely formed stitches s to produce a neck n of the desired len h.

It will be readily understood that the exwardly between the extensions 46, 46' andv into contact with the upper button as the stitches are set by the take-up. It will be seen that the degree of looseness of the stitches which secure the buttons together is substantially independent of the character of the intervening material and is controlled by the thickness of the spacing means or extensions 46, 46 carried by the upper button clamp. In case it is desired that the degree of looseness of the stitches be very small or, in other words, that the buttons 5 and b be stitched snugly to the opposite sides of the body-fabric f, the spac- 'ing means or extensions 46, 46 may, of

with the work-holder. .In 'a similar man-' ner the pivoted upper, button-positioning devices are movable relatively toeach other and in a path parallel to the lower ones.

The entire upper button-positioning means also. moves bodily with the work-holder, and moves relatively thereto and to the lower means when lifted to release the work.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of other embodiments differing materially from the above specific disclosure.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. A button-clamp for sewing machines comprising, a work-support, a springpressed carrier, button-clamping elements mounted upon said carrier and disposed above said work-support,=coacting buttongripping .members mounted upon said worksupport, and means connecting said members whereby they are caused to partake simultaneously of reciprocal movements in opposite directions.

2. A stay-button clampfor sewing ma-- chines comprising, a work-support formed with a needle-aperture, coacting buttongripping elements. mounted directly upon said work-support at opposite sides of said aperture and adapted to sustain the work in opposition to the needle thrust, means connecting said elements whereby they are caused to partake simultaneously ofmovements in opposite directions, and means for closing said elements upon a stay-button.

3. A stay-button clamp for sewing machines comprising, a work-support; formed with a needle-aperture, coacting buttongripping elements mounted directly upon said work-support at opposite sides of said aperture and adapted to support the button between the work support and work, means connecting said elements whereby they are caused to partake simultaneously of movements in opposite directions, means for closing said elements upon a stay-button, and a button-centering stop sustained by said connecting means.

4. A stay-button clamp for sewing ma. chines comprising, a work-support formed with a needle-aperture, coacting buttongripping levers pivotally mounted directly upon said work-support and formed with button-gripping jaws disposed at opposite sides of said aperture and adapted to support the button between the work support and work, means connecting said levers whereby they'are caused to partake simultaneously of movements in opposite directions, and means for closing said jaws upon a staybutton;

5. A stay-button clamp for sewing machines comprising, a work-sup ort formed with a .needle aperture, coacting utton-gripping elements mounted directly upon said work-support at opposite sides of said aperture and-adapted to support the button between the work support and work, means connecting said elements whereby they are caused to partakesimultaneously of movements in opposite directions, and a spring for urging said elements toward said needleaperture'.

6. A stay-button clamp for sewing machines comprising, a work-support formed with a needle-aperture, coacting buttongripping elements mounted directly upon said work-support at opposite sides of said aperture and adapted to support the button between the work support and work, a slideplate movably mounted upon said work-support, and coacting pin and inclined guideway connections between said slide-plate and said button-gripping elements;

-7.'A stay-button clamp for sewing machines comprising, a work-supporting plate formed with a needle-aperture, coac'ting button-gripping levers directly mounted upon and wholly within the" periphery of said plate and at opposite sides of the needleaperture, and a U-shaped spring secured between its ends to said plate and bearing upon said levers to force them toward each other.

8. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, a button-clamp support, independent upper and lower self-centering button-clamps carried, by said support, and means for producing relative lateral jogging movements between said needle and said support.

'9. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, a button-clamp support, independent upper and lower self-centering button-clamps carried by said support, and

means for jogging said support. laterally of the needle.

10. In a button sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, and laterally and longitudinally movable,upper and lower between them to which the buttons may be attached, and means for spacing said upper button-positioning device a predetermlned distance above the surface of the fabric placed between said devices.- 12. In a button sewing machine, in comblnation, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, and a movable workholder comprising a lower button-positioning device and an upper button-positioning device spring-pressed toward the lower one and each including opposed button-gripping -j aws, and means carried by the upper of said positioning devices for spacing the ,jaws,

thereof a predetermined distance from the surface of a fabric disposed between said upper and lower positioning device's so that when the fabric is removed from said devices the button is secured thereto by loose stitches.

13. In a button sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, and a work-holder comprising a lower button-clamp and an upper button-clamp spring-pressed toward said lower clamp and comprising opposed buttongripping jaws, and means carried by said upper button-clamp for spacing the jaws thereof a predetermined distance above the surface of a fabric disposed between said upper and lower button-clamps, whereby when said fabric is removed the button is secured thereto by loose stitches.

14. Ihe combination with a sewing machine frame including a bed, of a workholder comprising a support movably mounton said bed, a work-supporting plate carried by said support and formed with'a needleaperture, coacting button-positioning elements movably mounted on said work-supporting plate at opposite sides of said needle aperture, coacting button-positioning ele-- 'ments carried by said support and movable needle aperture, stay buttom positioning means mounted on said work-support at opposite sides of said aperture, main-buttonpositioning means movably mounted above said sta'y-button-positioning means, and gauge means for limiting the approach of said main-button-positioning means to fabric between the last mentioned means and the stay-button-positioning means.

16. In a sewing machine, in combination, a movable -work-support formed with a needle-aperture, superposed separate buttonpositioning means embracing said needleaperture, the upper of said means being movable with respect to the other, and gauge means for limiting the approach of the movable means to fabric placed between said button-positioning means, so that when the fabric is removed from said means the button will be secured thereto by loose stitches. i

17. In .a button sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, and upper and lower button-positioning devices, the upper of said button-positioning devices including button-gripping means, and means for spacing a gripped button a predetermined distance from the surface of a fabric placed between said devices, whereby when said fabric is removed said button issecured thereto by loose stitches. I I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM L. BARRON. 

